GROCERY TRADE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22307, 22 January 1938, Page 5

GROCERY TRADE

PRICES AND PROSPECTS

But the wholesale and retail grocery trades at present are experiencing steady and satisfactory trading conditions and some city retailers yesterday reported business for the week as being good. There have been no price movements of any importance since last report, overseas markets generally being steady, and where price alterations have been made they have not disclosed any exceptional mqvement. Canned Fruit Prices for next season's pack, Australian canned fruit, have been received. The f.o.b. costs are 6d a dozen in advance of last season's values. This rise has been expected in some quarters, but in others it has caused a little surprise. With the increase in freight now in operation, together with the added duty on the extra 6d a dozen the landed costs in New Zealand wili show close on Is a dozen increase over previous landings. Peaches and apricots will be available for early shipment with pears due later.

The pack of canned peaches this season in Hawkc's Bay will be well below expectations. Reports from this district state that there will be a substantial reduction in the quantity packed this season, and deliveries will be reduced accordingly. Herrings Herrings in tomato sauce now landing are costing 5d to 6d a dozen higher than formerly. This advance is due to the higher prices being charged in England, of which the trade was advised some time ago. Peas * The crop of milling grade peas in Victoria this season will be light. The market has accordingly moved up in sympathy and sellers are now asking 3d to 6d a bushel advance over December quotations, thus placing values about. 6s to 6s 3d f.o.b. Melbourne. Raspberries One of the chief packers in New Zealand of canned raspberries has advised the trade that he will pack none this season. The difficulty, it is reported, has not been shortage of crop, but inability to gather it in the short period during which picking must be undertaken, before the fruit drops. Canned Peas As the Dominion packers of canned peas are not likely this season to pack sufficient for New Zealand requirements, importations seem necessary. Accordingly overseas quotations will be of interest. The present price of canned peas in Australia, for export, is 5 per cent, higher than last season's price, whilst Canadian quotations disclose a slight reduction. Clothes Lines British made wire clothes lines arc showing an increase in cost to land of approximately 12i per cent., due tohigher costs at the factory. Fruit Salad The only line of fruit salad now available for shipment from Queensland is lib tins. The 30oz pack has been completely sold. Further packing will start at the end of February, and buyers should endeavour to obtain firms' quotations for this later shipment to cover their requirements whilst stocks are available. The heavy demand for this product in Australia will, it is expected, soon absorb the February pack and leave the market once again practically bare uf supplies. Tea The Calcutta tea market opened again last week after the holidays. The catalogue totalled 2.500.0001 b of Indian tea with export rights. Quality was below the average for this period of the year but the market was firm for many grades. Common teas and good liquoring mediums were in strong demand and prices were firm. Tippy teas were irregular, lacking support, and inclined to be 'weaker. The Java tea market opened last week—no details are a'vailable except that values of all types were firm. Lemon Cordial A well-known line of lemon cordial made in Australia has advanced by 9d a dozen, f.o.b. This increase will mean about Is a dozen increase in landed costs in New Zealand. Ground Almonds The London market for ground almonds opened after the holidays with shippers quoting 6s per cwt below December rates. Sild A cablegram from Norway advises an all round increase in the price of sild of 5 per cent, due, it is stated, to wages increases in the industry. For some time efforts have been made, more or less successfully, to place the sild and brisling industries in Norway on a better footing. This latest increase appears to be related to this movement, and if reports are correct there will be no likelihood of lower, prices for some time, the tendency being toward firmer values. Rice Overseas reports just to hand state that in the opinion of shippers the rice market is not likely to change its position in the near future. All markets nre steady, and from all appearances are expected to remain so for a while yet. Walnut Pieces A welcome arrival has been walnut pieces from China. The goods opened up in excellent condition and prices being reasonable, are worth retailers' attention. Olive Oil The recent downward move of olive oil in Europe has been checked. Late cablegrams indicate a firmer market and in one or two instances shippers are asking 6d to lOd a gallon increase over prices quoted last month. Tapioca and Sago A slight advance of 6s a ton has taken place in Singapore in the value of sago and tapioca. Reports are current that freight rates from Singapore are likely to be advanced in the near future and if this happens it will correspondingly increase landed costs.

Ginger New season's Cochin ginger is due to arrive via Sydney about the end of next month. Prices are easier than was the case last season, and importers expect to land supplies at reasonable rates. Arrowroot Arrowroot is still advancing in Queensland and the latest news is a further advance of Id per lb. Resin The New York market for resin last week was reported by cablegram to be firming. Lentils Inquiries show that the price of Indian lentils has not moved at the port of shipment, the market being steady at previous rates. Eggs The egg market is firm at present with retailers in the city selling to the public at, firsts Is 3d, seconds Is 2d, ducks' Is 3d. Soap Price lists issued by some Australian soap-makers disclose a reduction of 6d a box, equal to £1 a ton. The price of soap in New Zealand is unchanged, and the reduction in Australia is not likely to affect the New Zealand trade, which draws supplies from Dominion factories. Bicarbonate of Soda Although no word has been received as to any advance in the price of bicarbonate of soda, it is significant that the manufacturers have advanced prices to Australian buyers by 25s a ton This advance may be confined to Australia, but nevertheless it points to the direction prices will move if any alteration is made in values.